Before the storm: Make a plan

Knowing what to do before a storm strikes can help you protect your family and your possessions.

Take one weekend at the start of the season and review your family’s hurricane plan.

If you don’t have a plan, use the calm before the storm to create one that suits your family’s needs. If you don’t think you need a plan, quiz yourself and see if you have answers to the following questions:

If you are ordered to evacuate, where would you go?

Do you know which shelters are pet-friendly?

What would you do if you lost power for hours or days?

Do you have a list of out-of-town emergency contacts?

Do you have a basic emergency disaster kit prepared?

When was the last time you did a safety check on your generator?

What would you do if you could not return to your house?

Should you drain your swimming pool before a storm?

Does your generator have a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector?

If you are someone with special needs, or are disabled, where would you go if you had to evacuate?

Who will shutter your home if you are away when a storm strikes?

Do you have enough non-perishable food and water to sustain your family if the power is out for days?

Will you have enough prescription medication to last if you cannot get to a pharmacy?

Do you know the difference between “actual cash value” and “replacement cost?”